Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcal14141’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcal14141’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcal14141’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa x hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcal14141’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during November 2012. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractiveflower coloration, and a moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growthhabit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoax hybrida breeding selection coded 8723-(2).1, not patented,characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-coloredfoliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The male(pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa xhybrida breeding selection coded 8723-(2).2, not patented, characterizedby its white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during April 2013 in a controlled environmentin Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceApril 2013 in Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstratedthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcal14141’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in having larger diameter flowers. In addition, plantsof the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent in beingearlier to bloom and in having more branches per plant.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is CABARET White‘Balcabwhite’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons,plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcabwhite’ in atleast the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a lighter throat color than        plants of ‘Balcabwhite’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of        ‘Balcabwhite’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter flowers than        plants of ‘Balcabwhite’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcal14141’. Theplants were grown in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balcal14141’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balcal14141’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in November 2017 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 7 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one weekafter transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 68° F. to 72° F. (20° C. to 22° C.) during the day andapproximately 64° F. to 66° F. (18° C. to 19° C.) during the night.Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida ‘Balcal14141’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding            selection coded 8723-(2).1, not patented.        -   Male parent.—proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding            selection coded 8723-(2).2, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-trailing.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 9.0 cm. Width: Approximately 33.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 15.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young and            mature stems: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 14. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning            downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 2.7 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B            with midvein of 146C. Color of lower surface of young            foliage: Closest to 138A with midvein of 146D. Color of            upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 146C            to indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of mature            foliage: Between 138A and 138B with venation of 146D to            indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcal14141’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 10. Fragrance: None detected.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 6.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion NN155A, tube            portion 145C, venation of 145B.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Shallowly notched. Length from tube:            Approximately 1.5 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately            6.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glandular            pubescent, dense along venation. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface when first and fully            open: NN155D with midveins of 146A and 146D. Color of lower            surface when first and fully open: NN155D with midveins of            145B.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface:            NN155D with 6C at throat opening, venation of 146A and 146D.            Color of outer surface: 145C with venation of 145B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm            to 1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Texture of            upper and lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A.            Color of lower surface: 138B with base of 144A.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,            basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Filament            length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament            color: 145D. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma            shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma            color: 143A. Style length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Style            color: 145D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary            color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plantnamed ‘Balcal14141’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.